Pressure bandage-splint and method of forming same



M. GOTTFRIED Nov. 7, 1967 PRESSURE BANDAGE'SPLINT AND METHOD OF FORMINGSAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, 1963 INVENTOR.

M. GOTTFRIED Nov. 7, 1967 PRESSURE BANDAGE-SPLINT AND METHOD OF FORMINGSAME Filed Nov. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

M 7% "NW/A MAJ 60 W fi United States Patent 3,351,055 PRESSUREBANDAGE-SPLINT AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Max Gottfried, Rossford, Ohio,assignor to Jobst Institute, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of OhioFiled Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 326,108 9 Claims. (Cl. 128-87) The presentinvention relates to an improved, pneumatically inflatable pressurebandage-splint structure, and, more particularly, to such a splint foruse in the emergency immobilizing of a limb fracture, such as thecommonly occurring boot top fracture of skiers, and under a universallyobserved procedure which forbids the removal of the skiers boot at thelocation of the accident. However, as will be apparent as the presentdescription proceeds, the pneumatically inflatable pressure bandage andsplint combination is capable of more general usage for the immobilizingof other injured body members, when ease and speed in doing this withoutappreciable movement of the injured part are important considerations.

Generally, it is an object of the invention to provide amouth-inflatable splint of the above description for immobilizing limbfractures, in particular ski fractures, which can be applied to theinjured part over the patients clothing, for example, without removing aski boot, which itself in effect becomes a component of the splint structure by bracing the limb extremity and preventing chilling thereof afterthe immediate accident shock. As utilized in such an application theapplied and air inflated splint not only holds the fracture againstmovement but also keeps the limb warm due to the substantial insulatingair layer surrounding the limb.

More particularly, the invention contemplates an inflatable air splintfor quick and easy application to an injured leg which is of adouble-walled envelope construction having hermetically sealed wallscontaining the air under pressure, andwhich nevertheless is providedwith openings to receive the toe and heel of the injured personss skiboot. Provisions are made to equip corresponding margins of the envelopeadjoining one of said openings with slide fastener means, enabling thesplint to be applied to the injured limb, in an open condition alongsuch margins, without significantly moving the limb,

then closed about the limb by manipulation of the zipper fastening meansprior to inflation to complete the splint.

The result of these arrangements is to provide a double-walled splintwhich will receive the toe and heel of the ski boot, in which zonessplinting is unnecessary in any event, thus minimizing to this degreethe amount of air necessary to thoroughly inflate the splint, which is aconsideration of some significance when the emergency treatment isperformed at high altitude and in thin air.

Further in accordance with the objective of the invention, the zipperfastening means mentioned above is arranged on the margins of the splintenvelope in such fashion that its movable zipper element is moved towardthe toe or heel opening which the fastener means adjoins, rather thanaway from said opening to the opposite end of the splint envelope.Because of this, the fastener means may be joined to any lengthdownwardly along the splint margins which is desired, and which will ofcourse vary with ski boots of different instep and ankle design orproportioning. Thus, the inner wall of the inflatable twowalled splintenvelope may, when the splint is inflated, take full engagement with theinjured limb down to the ski boot. This is a reversal of the normalorientation of zipper fasteners, the movable element of which usuallyoperates along adjoining margins from a fixed meeting point of suchmargins to a terminal point at which they are to be fully released fromone another.

3,351,055 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 Still further in accordance with theobjective in question, the zipper fastener is one which automaticallylocks in any adjusted position against shift of its movable element fromthat position, other than under an endwise pull in the direction of thefastener and fastened margins.

An important object of the invention is to provide an inflatablepressure splint and bandage which is in its entirety, other than thementioned slide fastener means and provisions to orally inflate thesame, fabricated of fully transparent material, thus enabling theexternal observation of an injury, such as a compound fracture, withoutremoval or deflation of the splint, as well as to facilitate whatevermanipulation of the injury on location as may be deemed advisable ordesirable.

Still another object is to provide an inflatable splint of the foregoingcharacter which, in addition to an opening or openings at toe and heelzones above which the splint envelope is slide fastener-connected toafford inflatable air chamber means surrounding the injured limb, hasits air chambers in communication with one another between unsealedmargins of the sealed splint envelope at which the toe and/or heelopening or openings are defined. This in effect provides a bottomcommunicating chamber simultaneously inflatable with thelimb-surrounding chamber means, to provide a bracing action at thebottom of the instep of the leg, which is of assistance particularlywhen the splint is applied to an unshod leg.

Further in accordance with the invention, the splint is equipped withdual, valved inflating tubes communicating with the air chamber spacebetween its trans parent, hermetically sealed walls. This permits thesimultaneous services of two persons in quickly inflating the splint,particularly under a high altitude, thin air condition. These valvedinflating means are applied to opposite sides of the splint envelope,but, as mentioned above, the entire chamber space is equalized as topressure by the communicating bottom instep provision referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method forproducing an inflatable bandage-splint having the above characteristics,as the result of which method, the splint is quickly and rapidlyconstructed by the use of relatively simple heat sealing equipment, yetis very effectively lap seam-sealed along margins of its double-walledenvelope in a manner to best resist the tendency of the inflating air toweaken, split or rupture the sealed seam.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved pneumaticallyinflatable splint of the invention as fully and operatively applied to askiers limb, the action of slide fastener margin sealing means, of thesplint being indicated in solid and dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the manner of initially applying thesplint to an injured limb with a minimum movement of the latter, priorto fully surrounding the limb and being inflated to immobilize theinjury;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section along broken line 3-3 of FIG. 4,showing the inflated splint and the manner in which its inner wall orply grips the limb to immobilize the latter;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a prefabricatedenvelope unit of the splint, as laid out prior to application of slidefastener means thereto, the unit being shown with its componenttransparent walls hermetically sealed about the perimeter thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on line 6-6of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, similar to FIG. 5, showing the splintenvelope with slide fastener means applied thereto;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged scale view in vertical section on line8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the completed splint, as fol-dablymanipulated about its longitudinal midpoint from the flat condition ofFIG. 7 and further sealed along parts of the longitudinal meetingmargins of the envelope halves to afford toe and heel openings; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged scale view in section along a linecorresponding to line 1)18 of FIG. 9, with the splint partially inflatedto more clearly show the lapped seam seal along the margins of theenvelope opposite its slide fastener-bearing margins.

As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the improvedair-inflatable splint of the invention, generally designated by thereference numeral 10, is essentially comprised of outer and inner wallsheets 11, 12, respectively, of a fully transparent material, preferablyof a thermally sealable plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride.These wall sheets or plies are readily flexible, and since the outerwall 11 must retain air pressure in the chamber space 13 between thewalls without stretching or ballooning, the wall sheet 11 may be atwelve gauge polished vinyl chloride such as is marketed under thedesignation KDA2940. This sheet, while being adequately flexible, issufficiently inelastic not to deform under the pressures involved in theuse of the splint. On the other hand, the inner wall sheet 12 must besufficiently flexible and pliable to conform readily to the shape of thelimb when the envelope chamber space 13 is inflated, hence may be of aneight gauge polyvinyl chloride composition. As illustrated best in FIGS.1 and 3, the completed splint 10 affords toe and heel openings 15, 16,respectively, for receiving corresponding portions of a wearers ski boot17, with the advantages of increased ease of initially applying thesplint to the injured limb, and decreasing the amount of lung airrequired to inflate the latter.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the splint 10 as being completed by slide fastenermembers 18, 19 fixedly applied to portions of its longitudinal envelopemargins to one side of the zone at which the toe opening is formed whenthese slide fastener tapes are brought together and sealed; and byvalved inflating tube members 20, 21 applied to the outer wall panel 11of the splint in a manner to be described.

It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the slide fastener elements 18, 19are oriented, in the longitudinal sense relative to the envelopemargins, reversely of the usual fashion. That is, it is intended thatthe splint be closed by the slide fastener, generally designated 22, bymanipulating its movable tongue piece 23 from the top of fastener 22,which is fully open before application of the splint, to the bottom atthe toe opening 15, thus enabling this opening to be brought snuglyaround the boot 17, regardless of the particular size or shape of thelatter. Slide fastener 22 is of the usual and conventional self-lockingtype, enabling the device 10 to remain snug on the limb when inflatedfor the desired splinting effect.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the manner of applying the splint to theinjured limb. Without moving the latter appreciably, the fully openedand spread out splint 10 is slid under the limb, disposing the heel ofthe boot 17 in the opening 16, whereupon the tube envelope is wrappedabout the limb and sealed in place by the slide fastener 22, in themanner referred to above. It is then inflated fully, or to the intentnecessary to adequately immobilize the injury, by mouth pressure appliedto one or both of the valved inflating members 20, 21. These are of atype available on the market, including a stem to which (FIG. 1) a mouthtube 24 is applied, rotation of the stem in one direction or anotheropening or closing a sealing valve (not shown) of the valve inflatingmember 28 or 21.

FIGS. 4 through 10 show in greater detail and in larger scale (FIGS. 6,8 and 10) the method of making the splint 10 to provide the structuralfeatures and characteristics referred to above in connection with FIGS.1, 2 and 3.

An inflatable envelope, generally designated 25, of the splint isillustrated in FIG. 5 .as comprising the relatively thick andcomparatively inelastic transparent plastic outer wall sheet 11, and therelatively thin and more flexible transparent plastic inner wall sheet12 disposed in superposed relation to one another. These sheets orpanels are of similar size and shape and have their perimetral marginsin register. The two inflating members 28 and 21 will have been appliedexternally in sealed covering relation to small openings of the outersheet 11, at points spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the envelope 25; and the latter is completed by heat sealing theenvelope walls 11, 12 together in a suitable press along a continuousheat seal zone 26 extending entirely around the outline of thesuperposed wall sheets, but in slightly inwardly spaced relation to themargin extremity. The shape of sheets 11 and 12 is such as to provideslightly widened longitudinal flanges 27 on either side of a centraltransverse zone, generally designated 28 at the longitudinal center ofthe sealed envelope 25.

FIG. 7 of the drawings shows slide fastener tapes 18, 19 as applied tothe envelope 25 along one pair of its marginal flanges 27, although theapplication of the slide fastener means may, if desired, be madecoincidentally of the marginal heat sealing of sheets 11, 12 earlier toconstitute enevelope 25. This is done by heat sealing the fastener tapes18, 19 to the zones in question along longitudinal, hermetically tightseams 28 outwardly of the primary envelope seam at 26; and concurrentlywith this, a relatively wide external protective flap 30 may be heatsealed in place along the slide tape 18, so as to fall externally of thesplint fastener 22 when the latter is closed. The slide fastener is thusshielded from moisture.

As shown in FIG. 7, the zones at which the tapes 18, 19 are sealed toenvelope 25 on seams 29 both terminate substantially short of the medialtransverse zone 28, which is of substantial length; and it is at thiszone of the envelope that its walls 11, 12 are sealed to one anotheronly by the initial heat seal seam 26. As suggests itself, it is at thismedial zone that the toe and heel opening are formed when the splint iscompleted and operatively applied to the limb.

Completion of the splint involves the folding of its similar halvesabout the central transverse zone 28, to the position shown in FIG. 9,and, finally, heat sealing in superposed relation to one another themargins of the envelope halves opposite those of the slidefastenerbearing halves.

The top of the folded envelope is of course left open, and its marginsopposite the slide fastener 22 are sealed longitudinally downwardly fromthe splint top in a special lap seal, of the type depicted in FIG. 10,along a length terminating substantially coextensive with the lowertermini of slide fastener tapes 18, 19. This affords the heel opening 16of the splint 10.

The lap seam seal in question, specially designated 33, is (FIG. 10)such that the respective double ply margins of the two halves of thefolded envelope 25 are overlapped in opposite directions onto oneanother and heat fused together along the relatively wide seal line 34.This method of lapped seaming is desirable in that it affords a joint atthe upper extremity of the heel opening 16 which is particularlyresistant to initiation of ,a tear. The reversely lapped seam 33 is alsopractical due to the fact that the press type of equipment employed infabricating the splint 10 is best adapted to its formation, in view ofthe folded bottom instep zone at 28 extending across the envelope 25.Furthermore, the seam 33, as a whole and throughout.

its length above the heel opening, is much more strongly resistant tosplitting, tearing or rupture under inflating pressure than is a simpleunidirectional lap or abutting of the envelope halves.

It is seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and that, as partially or whollyinflated orally at one or both of the members 20, 21, the envelope 25presents, between its relatively inelastic outer wall sheet 11 and itsrelatively more flexible inner wall sheet 12, the inflated chamberportions or spaces 13 which wholly surround the injured limb when thesplint is operatively applied, these spaces being intercommunicated atthe medial or bottom instep zone 28 of the splint by the communicatingchamber portion 36 which appears in FIG. 3. This feature permits instantequalization of the pressure throughout the splint 10 whether only oneor both of the valved means 20-, 21 are employed.

Of course, the invention contemplates changes in the method of producingthe splint, and consequently in the splint itself, which will occur tothose having ordinary skill in the art. For example, it may be practicalto commence the forming operations by using, rather than individualouter and inner wall sheets or panels 11, 12, a single blank of a gaugeof transparent sheet stock suitable to the purpose, and folding suchsheet along a longitudinally extending center line to bring similarhalves thereof into horizontal register, as described above and ascontemplated in certain of the claims to follow. This would permitelimination of the initial horizontal heat seal at 26 along the integralfolded margin of the resultant double-walled envelope. Other possiblechanges will also suggest themselves.

It it seen that the invention affords an improved, orally inflatablesplint which may be quickly and easily applied to a fractured limbwithout unduly disturbing the latter, the splint being transparentwalled to permit full inspection of the injured member. The toe .andheel openings at 15, 16, respectively, enable such facilitatedapplication without removing the patients boot, yet still provide for amuch smaller volume to be orally inflated than would be the case if thesplint structure were made sutficiently large to totally encase the skiboot.

The improved and reversed arrangement of the tapes of the slide fastener22 provides for adjustable connection of the splint halves along thiszone to accommodate different sizes of boot; and the fastenerautomatically locks in any adjusted position.

The limb-encasing portions of the air chamber 13 are intercommunicatedat the transverse bottom instep space 36 for the automatic equalizationof inflation pressure throughout the air chamber space of the splint,which is of value when both inflating members 20, 21 are utilized.Finally, the mode of seam-sealing of the splint halves affords maximumstrength to resist initial tear or commencement of a split or rupture atthe seaming under any foreseeable internal pressure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An air pressure splint to at least partially encase an injured, bootclad human leg, said splint comprising an outer flexible and relativelynonstretchable wall, an inner flexible wall connected by seaming aboutits perimeter in air-tight sealed relation to said outer wall to coactwith the latter in defining double-walled and sealed inflatable envelopemeans, said envelope means including an air chamber portion in positionto surround at least a major portion of the leg and instep, along whichchamber portion said envelope means has separable, air-tight marginsadapted to be releasably connected together to hold said chamber portionin said surrounding position, releasable, self-locking slide fastenerconnecting means on longitudinal zones of said respective separablemargins extending from adjacent corresponding ends of the latter totermini spaced from the opposite margin ends thereof at a toe portion ofthe splint, thus to releasably connect the margins together, with thechamber portion of the splint so surrounding the injured leg at theankle and instep and with a toe receiving opening from the interior tothe exterior of the splint between said termini and said opposite marginends, said envelope means and its chamber portion also providing a heelreceiving opening opposite said toe receiving opening and said slidefastener connecting means, said outer and inner splint walls extendingcontinuously and integrally about said injured leg in the area of thesplint directly adjacent said opening and said connecting means, andvalved inflation means in sealed communication with said envelope meansfor the inflation of said chamber portion on opposite sides: of saidconnecting means to enable the splint to grip the injured leg.

2. The splint of claim 1, in which parts .of said air chamber portionare in direct and open communication with one another in a sub-instepzone between said toe and heel receiving openings.

3. The splint of claim 1, in which said slide fastener connecting meanscomprises slide fastener elements secured on said respectivelongitudinal zones and having means operated in the direction towardsaid toe receiving opening to complete the closure of the connectingmeans at a point above the toe of the boot, thereby adapting the splintfor snug application to boots of substantially differing sizes.

4. The splint of claim 1, in which parts of said air chamber portion arein direction and open communication with one another in a sub-instepzone between said toe and heel receiving openings, said slide fastenerconnecting means comprising slide fastener elements secured on saidrespective longitudinal zones and having means operated in the directiontoward said toe receiving opening to complete the closure of theconnecting means at a point above the toe of the boot, thereby adaptingthe splint for snug application to boots of substantially differingsizes.

5. The splint of claim 1, in which said envelope means includes similar,individually sealed halves having a reversely lapped seal connection toone another in a longitudinal zone upwardly of said heel receivingopening.

6. A method of forming an air-inflatable splint, comprising superposinggenerally similar walls of sheet material in registered marginalrelation to one another, sealing said walls to one another about asubstantial part of the marginal length thereof to provide an air-tightsplint envelope, applying coacting slide fastener elements tolongitudinally spaced zones of one of the sealed wall margins onopposite sides of a longitudinal center zone of the envelope, foldingsimilar halves of said envelope at said center zone of the latter intosuperposed marginal register with one another, and sealing said halvesto one another along margins thereof opposite the slide fastener marginzones.'

7. A method of forming an air-inflatable splint, comprising superposinggenerally similar, separate walls of transparent flexible sheet materialin registered relation of the respective Wall margins to one another,sealing said walls to one another about the marginal length thereof toprovide an air-tight splint envelope, applying coacting slide fastenerelements to longitudinally spaced zones of one of the sealed wallmargins on opposite sides of a longitudinal center zone of the envelope,folding similar halves of said envelope at said center zone of thelatter into super-posed marginal register with one another, and sealingsaid halves to one another along margins thereof opposite the slidefastener margin zones.

8. A method of forming an air-inflatable splint, comprising superposinggenerally similar, separate walls of transparent flexible and heatscalable sheet material in registered relation of the respective wallmargins to one another, heat sealing said walls to one another about themarginal length thereof to provide an air-tight splint envelope,applying coacting slide fastener elements to longitudinally spaced zonesof one of the sealed wall margins on opposite sides of a longitudinalcenter zone of the envelope, folding similar halves of said envelope atsaid center zone oft-he latter into superposed marginal register withone another, and heat sealing said halves to one another along marginsthereof opposite the slide fastener margin zones for -a lengthapproximately coextensive with that of the superposed zones of the slidefastener elements only, thereby providing an opening between the lastname margins of the superposed halves to the exterior of the splint, inaddition to an opening at said center zone when said slide fastenerelements are coactively connected to one another.

9. A method. of forming an air-inflatable splint, comprising superposinggenerally similar, separate Walls of transparent flexible sheet materialin marginal registered relation of the respective wall margins to oneanother, sealing said walls to one another about a substantial part ofthe marginal length thereof to provide an air-tight splint envelope,applying coacting slide fastener elements to longitudinally spaced zonesof one of the sealed Wall margins on opposite sides of a longitudinalcenter zone of the envelope, folding similar halves of said envelope at2 said center zone of the latter into superposed marginal register withone another, and sealing said halves to one another along marginsthereof opposite the slide fastener margin zones by means of a seamcomprised of reversely overlapped two-ply edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,070 12/1941 Baldwin 128165'2,531,074 11/1950 Miller 128--38 10 2,694,395 11/1954 Brown 128-382,834,340 5/1958 Walter 12884 3,083,708 4/1963 Gottfried 12839 3,164,1521/1965 Vere Nicoll 128-87 15 FOREIGN PATENTS 549,294 11/ 1942 GreatBritain. 939,600 10/1963 Great Britain.

0 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

J W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AIR PRESSURE SPLINT TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY ENCASE AN INJURED, BOOTCLAD HUMAN LEG, SAID SPLINT COMPRISING AN OUTER FLEXIBLE AND RELATIVELYNONSTRETCHABLE WALL, AN INNER FLEXIBLE WALL CONNECTED BY SEAMING ABOUTITS PERIMETER IN AIR-TIGHT SEALED PORTION TO SAID OUTER WALL TO COACTWITH THE LATTER IN DEFINING DOUBLE-WALLED AND SEALED INFLATABLE ENVELOPEMEANS, SAID ENVELOPE MEANS INCLUDING AN AIR CHAMBER PORTION IN POSITIONTO SURROUND AT LEAST A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LEG AND INSTEP, ALONG WHICHCHAMBER PORTION SAID ENVELOPE MEANS HAS SEPARABLE, AIR-TIGHT MARGINSADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TO HOLD SAID CHAMBER PORTIONIN SAID SURROUNDING POSITION, RELEASABLE, SELF-LOCKING SLIDE FASTENERCONNECTING MEANS ON LONGITUDINAL ZONES OF SAID RESPECTIVE SEPARABLEMARGINS EXTENDING FROM ADJACENT CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE LATTER TOTERMINISPACED FROM THE OPPOSITE MARGIN ENDS THEREOF AT A TOE PORTION OFTHE SPLINT, THUS TO RELEASABLY CONNECT THE MARGINS TOGETHER, WITH THECHAMBER PORTION OF THE SPLINT SO